Carrot topping (Candied Carrots)

Carrot topping made with candied carrots is the solution to your carrot cake and muffin decorations. Learn how you can turn humble vegetables into delicious candy.

Carrot cake is a favorite among kids and adults alike. Carrots indeed make up this delicious treat.

But isn't the carrot cakes and carrot cake cupcakes that are almost always topped with cream cheese frosting and decorated with piping of carrots or pecan topping?

Here is the answer if you have ever wondered about carrot cake decorating ideas.

Topping your sweet treats with candied carrots will truly take your carrot cake and carrot muffins from ordinary to extraordinary.

It is also a simple and very unpretentious dessert with minimal ingredients.

Jump to:

• Why you should try this recipe
• Ingredients
• How to make candied carrots
• Recipe variations
• Storing and freezing
• Expert tips
• Frequently asked question
• Love carrot recipes? Try these next!
• Recipe card
• Comments

Why you should try this recipe

A carrot topping is the best way to turn your favorite cakes, cheesecakes, muffins, cupcakes, and sweet bread into magical experiences.

It will bring your desserts to a whole new level, making them pop with the sweet carrot flavor and crunchy texture. Indeed, candied carrots can be used as an exciting carrot cake garnish.

They blend both elements of deliciousness combined seamlessly within nutritious, healthy vegetables. Isn't it magic?

Carrot garnish is a creative way to add color and flavor when serving your sweet pizza.

Also, ready-made candy carrots are great as an easy snack that everyone will love - picky eaters included.

Finally, this colorful garnish as an edible decoration is an easy way to jazz up your holiday dinner table.

And when you make this easy candied carrot recipe yourself with the step-by-step photographed explanations, an excellent result is guaranteed.

Ingredients

For ingredients and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.

Carrots: fresh carrots (not soft ones) are the recipe's star. Choose bright-colored, juicy, and sweet whole carrots as evenly as possible. Baby carrots are not a great choice to make long-striped carrot candies.

Sugar: use granulated sugar to make the recipe. You can replace it with caster sugar if desired.

Water: it is used to make sugar syrup.

Powdered sugar: use store-bought powdered sugar or homemade icing sugar (use a coffee grinder to make it yourself).

How to make candied carrots

Wash raw carrots with a brush in cold running water. Next, cut the carrot tops and peel the carrots with a vegetable peeler.

Cut them into thin strips with a knife or shred them with a julienne peeler or mandolin.

Pour about 33.8 fl. oz. or 1 liter of water in a saucepan, add carrots and bring to a boil to soften the vegetables. Transfer carrots with a slotted spoon to the colander and drain.

In a saucepan, pour water (⅓ cup + 1 ½ tablespoons or 100 g), add sugar, and bring over medium-high heat.

Once it boils, lower the heat to medium, add carrots, and cook for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and let it soak in the pot for 5 minutes. Drain carrots with the colander.

Heat oven to 175 degrees F/80 degrees C. Distribute the carrots into a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Let them dry in the oven for about 1.5 to 2 hours. Open the oven door a little to let the steam out.

If the time permits, you can also let the carrots dry out overnight at room temperature.

Let the shredded candied carrots cool down. Then, separate them from the baking paper and roll them in icing (powdered) sugar.

Recipe variations

This candied carrot recipe is a short and adapted version of a traditional Greek recipe for sweet carrot spoon (Γλυκό του κουταλιού καρότο in Greek).

It is a caramelized carrot often distributed in sterile jars that make a garnish dessert enjoyed with ice cream, yogurt, or other dairy dishes.

It can be served as an independent dessert for tea or aromatic Greek coffee.

Add cinnamon sticks, ginger root, or orange peels to the sugar syrup to make your candied carrots more exciting.

You can throw in some Madagascar vanilla beans and add a little lemon juice for an extra flavor boost.

If you feel adventurous, try adding warm spices such as nutmeg, cloves, star anise, or allspice while making your candy carrots for an extra special treat.

You can also roll your carrots in either granulated, caster or brown sugar.

Finally, you can try experimenting with other fruit and root vegetables to make homemade candied fruit and vegetables.

As an example, use orange peels, watermelon peels, pumpkin, or melon. Using the rainbow carrots into the mix sounds like an awesome idea too.

Storing and freezing

Store candied carrot in a jar with a tightly closed lid or airtight container for up to 5 days at room temperature. You can store them longer in a dark, dry, and cool place.

It is not recommended to freeze the candied carrots.

Expert tips

1. Please don't use a cooking spray to spray the parchment paper; it is unnecessary.
2. If your oven doesn't support the low temperature, you can dry your carrots overnight or longer.
3. To make candied carrot curls (aka curling carrot ribbons), cut the vegetables into long thin strips and cook according to the recipe. While drying carrots, in the middle of the process, wrap the carrot strips around the handle of a wooden spoon or wooden stick. Finish to dry them in the oven. 

Frequently asked question

Love carrot recipes? Try these next!

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Recipe card

The nutritional information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator such as Verywellfit.com and is intended for informational purposes only. These figures should be used as a general guideline and not be construed as a guarantee.